Canadian jobless claims up 7.1 percent

Disbursements of Employment Insurance increased by 54,300 after two months of declines, the report said.

September's level of claimants was 63.5 percent higher than September 2008.
The agency said the largest increase in EI benefits were seen in Ontario and the western provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.

More than half of Ontario's 9 percent increase of 22,500 claims were attributed to the province's manufacturing industry, battered by the downturn in automotive production, StatsCan said.

"In Alberta, the number of regular EI beneficiaries increased by 14,400 (or 25 percent) in September, following two months of slight declines," the report said. "The number of beneficiaries in Alberta reached 71,900 in September, up 53,700 from the level in October 2008 when employment in the province was at its peak."

The number of recipients in British Columbia, rose by 11,300 for a total of 99,400, the agency said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.